February Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden." ~Thomas Jefferson
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With some mild weather this winter, some fruit trees may start to bud early. But go ahead and prune now if you haven’t already done so. First, remove dead or dying branches. If any appear diseased, sterilize tools after each cut through potentially infected wood. Then remove branches that are crossing or growing in an odd direction. After that, you can start to shape the tree with cuts for form and fruit production. Cut all the way back to a larger branch to thin the tree and let in sun and air; cut above a node facing the direction of desired growth in order to encourage balanced branching. Note: Only prune apricots and cherries in summer and wait to prune citrus until there is no longer a chance of frost or freeze.
Photo: Pruning tools: saw, loppers, and hand pruners, by Allen Buchinski
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California native plants naturally grow well in our soil and climate. They have the very important added benefit of supporting native wildlife, including bees and butterflies. Planting them early in the spring will give them time to get established before the hot summer. They tend to be hardy plants and need little to no supplemental water after they have developed a good root system. They do best in native soil without amendments. Native flowers come in a variety of stunning colors to attract pollinators and humans. UC Davis provides a database of California native plants with photos and descriptions. Master Gardeners have demonstration gardens throughout the county which can be visited for inspiration once it is deemed COVID-19-safe to re-open them to the public.
Photo: Master Gardeners’ Berger Native Demonstration Garden, by Rebecca Schoenenberger
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Citrus does well in our warm climate, provides year-round color, and has fewer pests and disease problems than some other fruit. Keep in mind that not everything that looks “wrong” with a plant is a problem in need of a solution. Some features are more interesting than problematic. A chimera is a genetic mutation that results in one section being different, perhaps raised, and of a different color than the rest of the fruit. A tiny citrus bud mite sometimes takes a nip out of a developing flower bud, resulting in abnormal protrusions instead of a nice round piece of fruit. And a branch with different leaves or thorns than the rest of the plant can likely be traced to a branch coming from below the graft union. For citrus, desirable fruit varieties are grafted onto stronger rootstock to get “the best of both worlds.” All of these abnormal growths can simply be removed with no further intervention needed.
Photos: Chimera, rootstock overtaking a tree, citrus bud mite damage, by Laura Monczynski, Allen Buchinski, Rob Gallau
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This mild, green, pear-shaped squash grows on a vine that can produce prolifically for several years. Although it is often recommended to plant it in the spring, some cultures traditionally plant it on Día de la Candelaria, February 2. The seed inside is very soft, so the way to start a new plant is from a whole chayote. Leave the chayote on the counter for a new vine to sprout from the seed within. Then plant it in the ground at a 45-degree angle with the large end pointing downward. The roots will grow from the same end as the shoot. It does best in a sunny location with well-drained soil. Provide strong vertical support from the start because the vine will grow very tall.
Photo: Chayote sprouting, by Laura Monczynski
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This tiny pest attacks a wide variety of ornamental and edible plants. Stippling of the leaves is the first symptom. This looks like small white or light brown dots, uniformly spread. If you look closely, webbing may be visible. The color of the plant will start to fade and eventually leaves may drop. What’s happening is that the mite is sucking the juices out of the plant. The pests favor dry, dusty conditions, so water is an important management tool. Be sure to water the plants sufficiently, and also wash off the leaves with water to knock off a lot of the dust and spider mites. The mites feed and reproduce year-round, and their populations tend to grow quickly as the weather starts to warm.
Photo: Spider mite damage on a potato plant, by Jack Kelly Clark
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We regret that we will not be holding a 2021 Spring Garden Market due to COVID restrictions. We hope to return with a full event in 2022.
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
Photo: Winter lettuce seedlings, by Allen Buchinski
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Contact our Help Desk (for Santa Clara County residents). Start by reviewing our plant problem diagnosis tips and then:
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